"I know you're worried about messing things up, but making a big splash with resettling the people isn't easy, and it's hard to mess up, so just go ahead and do it."

After Losa finished speaking, he raised his voice: "Jeanne, stop eavesdropping outside and come in."

Jeanne walked in, awkwardly.

Losa said to her, "I said last night that since you're in charge of the expansion, recruitment is your duty aside from training."

"You need to communicate well with Chelina on this matter."

"You can select some experienced veterans from the new settlers as the backbone, but not too many, as they are needed for their labor in opening up wasteland and building houses."

"Besides, in the three cities of Hebron, Alandler, and Philorn, city militias need training to maintain law and order in peacetime and assist in defending the city during wartime."

"Because typically, townspeople are wealthier and can bring their own equipment."

"Of course, they can also pay a fee to avoid service, similar to the shield tax paid by knightly nobles. In this way, we can save some expenses to train a standing army."

Every free person residing in the Losa Territory has a duty to serve.

Peasant slaves and heretics are not required to perform military service and are purely supporters, but this is not enviable as they are customarily heavily taxed.

"Also, from the farmer soldiers trained by the Imperial Knights, you can recruit some outstanding ones as the backbone."

"I want you to establish the backbone of a new standing army within a month, including three hundred light infantry, one hundred light cavalry, and five hundred heavy infantry."

Light infantry refers to projectile troops including slingers, archers, and javelin throwers.

Heavy infantry refers to troops that form a line for close combat with the enemy.

This is categorized by profession, not by the weight of equipment.

Jeanne admired, "What a grand plan, expanding the army by nearly a thousand in one go. Where did you strike it rich?"

Losa said irritably, "Don't worry about the money; there are plenty of old weapons and armor in the armory. If we don't use them well, they'll rust."

Although he said this, Losa indeed still had quite a bit of surplus wealth, but resettling the people and opening up wasteland were all pure expenses at this stage, practically spending money like water.

The more directly controlled fiefs, the more they became a burden.

Sometimes, Losa had to admit that while feudalism wasn't beneficial for centralization, it was certainly worry-free!

Jeanne said seriously, "Since you put it that way, leave this matter to me. Give me a month, and I promise to deliver a decent-looking army to you."

A month, and achieving a decent-looking result would already be impressive.

Losa nodded and then looked at Chelina.

She no longer hesitated and said earnestly, "I will also do my best."

Losa waved his hand, "Don't try too hard; the number of settlers shouldn't be too many. Too large a number would be too heavy a burden for the territory, so let's limit it to within five thousand people."

Even the Eastern Crusaders were still troubled by overpopulation.

If it were the Northern Crusaders, many border lords would have large tracts of land and be in dire need of yeomen to farm.

But unfortunately, compared to the Iberian Crusaders and the Eastern Crusaders, participants in the Northern Crusaders were really too few, limited to the Scandinavian Countries and the Northern Germanic Region.

…

In the afternoon.

Outside an unassuming mansion.

With a command from Losa, a squad of fully armed Crusader soldiers broke down the mansion door and charged inside like wolves.

Some knights, already eager, wanted to make some ill-gotten gains from this opportunity.

Hans hesitated and said in a low voice, "I'll go in and keep an eye on things."

Losa frowned. He knew Hans had good intentions.

"No need, let them have free rein; the owner of this mansion is a Jewish merchant named Friedman with a bad reputation. He deals in human trafficking, usury, and runs casinos, and is the merchant who hoards the most grain. It's most fitting to use him as an example."

"Moreover, if we don't use their wealth to feed our people, who will willingly work for you wholeheartedly in the future?"

Hans was momentarily stunned, hesitated, but still said, "I want to save the women and children inside the mansion. There are always innocents there."

Losa frowned and said, "Alright, you handle it as you see fit."

To be honest, this Jewish merchant was quite unfortunate.

In human trafficking, he sold black slaves and war captives.

Usury and running a casino weren't punishable by death—at least not the whole family.

However, although everyone hoards grain as speculators, others have backing, but these Jewish people don't, at least not openly. Who else would be troubled if not them?

Unfortunate indeed.

But unjust?

Not at all.

In this era, line up ten moneylenders, hang them on the gallows one by one, and at most half of them would be unjustly condemned.

As Losa said, the first household was chosen as an infamous Jewish merchant to make an example.

The second household was much more compliant.

In the face of swords and ercs, they quickly handed over their grain, but no matter how Hans asked, they refused to reveal the instigator behind them.

"Forget it, no need to worry about who instigated it. I wouldn't be surprised even if it involved the Church."

Losa frowned. Treating fellow brothers couldn't be as harsh as treating heretics.

He glanced at the man tied up by the soldiers: "Mr. Kettel, since you voluntarily handed over the stored grain and offerings, a man of your virtue surely wouldn't be involved in usury. We will leave now."

The bald Jewish merchant named Kettel immediately showed a look of relief: "That's right, I voluntarily donated grain to ease the famine in the city."

As he was about to leave.

Losa paused briefly: "Mr. Kettel, if you want to live longer, it's better not to engage in dangerous trades again."

Kettel showed a bitter smile: "Count, for people like us, once we're on this ship, is there any chance to get off?"

Losa remained silent for a moment.

"Then just pray that next time, you still have the 'wealth' to avoid disaster."

Continuing to step outside.

He truly had no choice; relying on the major nobles or bishops—as long as Kettel could no longer provide them with enough benefit, his fate would surely be dire.

Major nobles and clergy—these big figures treasured their reputation, hence the value these Jewish merchants held.

At this moment.

A knight approached.

He was stopped by the Royal Knights.

Losa immediately recognized the person: "Knight Kevin, what brings you here?"

Knight Kevin respectfully took off his helmet and saluted: "Count Losa, my lord invites you to the manor to discuss tomorrow's court meeting."

"Alright, I understand, please wait for a moment."

"Have you understood how I handled this?"

Losa looked at Hans and asked.

Hans nodded, "I understand, we're not here to seek justice for the victims, but to address the 'grain shortage' in the city."

"Exactly, don't escalate the situation, everything must remain stable in the Holy Land."

Losa patted his shoulder, "The next matters are up to you to handle. I know you might not be as ruthless as I am—you can keep a straight face, then just repeat what I said."

Hans responded, "I will do my best."

After finishing, Losa mounted his horse and said to Knight Kevin, "Let's go, it's been a while since I saw Baron Godfrey. How has his health been?"

Losa patted his shoulder, "The next matters are up to you to handle. I know you might not be as ruthless as I am—you can keep a straight face, then just repeat what I said."

Hans responded, "I will do my best."

After finishing, Losa mounted his horse and said to Knight Kevin, "Let's go, it's been a while since I saw Baron Godfrey. How has his health been?"

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